Breakaway tooling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A breakaway tooling apparatus connectable to a manipulator and at least one tool for limiting the amount of damage to the associated manipulator and tool when the apparatus accidentally engages an obstacle. The detection mount has a narrowed neck region and stepped throughbore adjacent the narrowed neck region for creating a weakened portion that will fracture upon the realization of a predetermined force to the detection mount. An air passageway extends from an outer portion of the detection mount to an inner portion of the detection mount, wherein the air passageway is connectable to a supply of pressurized air. A blocking member prevents the pressurized air from passing through the air passageway in the detection mount when the detection mount is not fractured at the weakened portion, and the blocking member allows pressurized air to flow through the air passageway in the detection mount when the detection mount is fractured at the weakened portion. A pressure indicator determines whether the air pressure in the air passageway is above or below a predetermined air pressure level, thereby indicating whether the detection mount is fractured at the weakened portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a formalization of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/122,944, filed on Dec. 16, 2008.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to industrial tooling, and in particular,an industrial breakaway tooling apparatus that is designed to break in apredetermined region and indicate whether the breakaway toolingapparatus has broken so as to prevent any further damage of theindustrial tooling and any associated manipulator thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In today's industries, robotic equipment is being used for a widevariety of applications. Such applications may attach some form oftooling to a mechanical wrist or end of a robotic arm via a mountingface plate or some form of bracketry. Much of the tooling has becomeversatile, complex, and modular so that the tooling can be used forvarious applications and workpieces. Such modular tool designs tend tobe more expensive than conventional designs, since a greater amount ofengineering, design, and material costs are invested into the modulartooling. Thus, any damage to the modular tooling can be rather expensiveand costly to the manufacturer.

Occasionally, the robotic system and/or its tooling may encounterunexpected obstacles in a manufacturing environment. If the roboticsystem and/or the modular tooling impacts the obstacle with sufficientforce, or if the robotic system continues to move once the modulartooling has come into contact with the obstacle, the robotic systemand/or the modular tooling may become damaged. Further damage may occurif the robotic system is not stopped after the initial damage occurs.

Thus, it would be desirable to provide a robotic system and/or modulartooling system that reduced the amount of damage to the modular toolingand/or the robotic system upon encountering unexpected obstacles byimmediately stopping the robotic system upon damage to the modulartooling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a breakaway tooling apparatus connectableto a manipulator and at least one tool for limiting the amount of damageto the associated manipulator and tool when the manipulator and/or toolaccidentally engage an obstacle. The breakaway tooling apparatus of thepresent invention provides a detection mount connectable to themanipulator and the tool wherein the detection mount has a weakenedportion for allowing the detection mount to fracture at said weakenedportion upon the realization of a predetermined force to the detectionmount. The detection mount has an air passageway having at least aportion thereof in close proximity to the weakened portion of thedetection mount. The air passageway is in communication with apressurized air source such that the pressurized air is prohibited frompassing through the air passageway when the detection mount is notfractured at the weakened portion, and wherein the pressurized air isallowed to pass through the air passageway when the detection mount isfractured at the weakened portion. A pressure sensor is in communicationwith the pressurized air for determining whether the pressurized air inthe air passageway is below a predetermined level of air pressure,thereby indicating whether the detection mount is fractured at theweakened portion.

In one embodiment, the air passageway in the detection mount may extendfrom a first end, wherein the first end is in communication with thepressurized air supply, to a second end, which opens to an inner surfaceof the detection mount. A blocking member engages the second end of theair passageway to prevent the pressurized air from passing through thesecond end of the air passageway when the detection mount is notfractured at the weakened portion. The blocking member allowspressurized air to pass through the second end of the air passagewaywhen the detection mount is fractured at the weakened portion. Theblocking member may be fabricated from a substantially cylindrical ringconnected to the detection mount. In the alternative, the blockingmember may be fabricated from at least a portion of the tool connectedto the detection mount. A flexible seal may be disposed between thesecond end of the air passageway and the blocking member for providing asealed engagement between the second end of the air passageway and theblocking member when the detection mount is not fractured at theweakened portion.

In another embodiment, the air passageway and the detection mount mayextend from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end is incommunication with the pressurized air source. The second end of the airpassageway may have a closed end within the detection mount adjacent tothe weakened portion of the detection mount, wherein pressurized aircannot pass through the second end of the air passageway when thedetection mount is not fractured at the weakened portion, and whereinthe pressurized air may pass through the second end of the airpassageway when the detection mount is fractured at the weakenedportion, thereby opening the second end of the air passageway.

The detection mount may have a stepped throughbore adapted to receivethe tool, and the inner diameter of the stepped throughbore may beadjacent to the weakened portion of the detection mount. The weakenedportion of the detection mount may be fabricated by a narrowing neckregion of the detection mount such that the detection mount willfracture at the narrowing neck portion upon the realization of thepredetermined force applied to the detection mount.

An air pressure regulator in communication with the supply ofpressurized air may be utilized for regulating and monitoring the levelof pressurized air to the air passageway in the detection mount.

Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent with reference to the following specification and to thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The description herein makes reference to the accompanying drawingswherein the referenced numerals refer to like parts throughout severalviews and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the breakaway tooling apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the detection mount of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the passageway in the directionof arrows A-A in FIG. 5 of the breakaway tooling apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the detection mount in the direction ofarrows A-A in FIG. 5 of the breakaway tooling apparatus of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a plan top view of the detection mount of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a plan front view of the detection mount of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a plan front view of the blocking member of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a plan right side view of the blocking member of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the blocking member of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an isometric view of the air pressure system of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a circuit diagram of the air pressure system of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a plan top view of the air pressure system of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the air pressure system of the breakawaytooling apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the detectionmount in the direction of arrows A-A in FIG. 5 of the breakaway toolingapparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 15 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of the detection mountin the direction of arrows A-A in FIG. 5 of the breakaway toolingapparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings, the present invention will now be describedin detail with reference to the disclosed embodiment.

The present invention provides a breakaway tooling apparatus 10 forallowing and indicating the fracturing of a detection mount 12 upon anunexpected force being applied to the detection mount 12, wherein theforce is created by the breakaway tooling apparatus 10 unexpectedlyengaging an obstacle (not shown). As seen in FIG. 1, the breakawaytooling apparatus 10 may be mounted to a master boom rod 14 of amanipulator (not shown), such as a conventional robotic system orrobotic arm. A mounting plate 16 may be connected to the master boom rod14 through the use of conventional fasteners (not shown) to assist insecuring the breakaway tooling apparatus 10 to the master boom rod 14,and/or the mounting plate 16 may be used to connect the master boom rod14 to the manipulator through the use of conventional fasteners (notshown). A bracket 18 may also be utilized to connect the breakawaytooling apparatus 10 to the master boom rod 14 through the use ofconventional fasteners (not shown). The manipulator may move the masterboom rod 14 and the breakaway tooling apparatus 10 to engage a workpiece(not shown).

The breakaway tooling apparatus 10 has at least one detection mount 12that is mounted to the bracket 18; however, in FIG. 1, two similardetection mounts 12 are shown connected to the bracket 18. Each of thedetection mounts 12 have a modular tooling assembly 20 connectedthereto. The modular tooling assemblies 20 may provide a lock ring 22for connecting a boom rod 24 to the detection mount 12 and a toolingmount 26 connected to the boom rod 24 for locating and securing aconventional tool (not shown) to the tooling mount 26. The tool maycomprise a clamp, a gripper, a locator, a weld gun, a vacuum cup, etc.An air pressure system 27 is mounted to a mounting plate 29 which isconnected to the bracket 18 through the use of conventional fasteners31. Air lines or hoses 30 extend from the air pressure system 27 to eachof the detection mounts 12. When the breakaway tooling apparatus 10 isoperational, and the detection mount 12 is not fractured, the airpressure system 27 may provide an indication that the detection mount 12is intact. When the detection mount 12 fractures due to the manipulatormoving the modular tooling 20 and having the modular tooling 20unexpectedly engage an obstacle with a force exceeding a predeterminedlevel, the air pressure system 27 may provide an indication that thedetection mount 12 is fractured. In addition, when the detection mount12 fractures, the air pressure system 27 sends a signal to a controlapparatus (not shown) of the manipulator to shut off and stop themanipulator from any further movement.

In order to connect the detection mount 12 to the bracket 18 and themodular tooling 20, the detection mount 12 provides a substantiallysquare mounting region 32 integrally connected to a substantiallycylindrical boom rod mounting region 34, as seen in FIGS. 1-6. Thesubstantially square mounting region 32 provides apertures 36 in each ofthe corners of the substantially square mounting region 32 thatcorrespondingly align with apertures in the bracket 18. Each of theapertures 36 in the substantially square mounting region 32 receives aconventional fastener 38 that extends into each aperture in the bracket18 for connecting the detection mount 12 thereto. The cylindricalmounting region 34 of the detection mount 12 also provides four threadedapertures 40 for receiving conventional fasteners 42 that connect thelock ring 22 to the detection mount 12. A stepped throughbore 44 extendsthrough the substantially square mounting region 32 and thesubstantially cylindrical mounting region 34 of the detection mount 12along a longitudinal axis 46 of the detection mount 12. The steppedthroughbore 44 has a first diameter 48, which extends through thesubstantially square mounting region 32 of the detection mount 12, and asecond diameter 50, which is larger than the first diameter 48 andextends through the substantially cylindrical mounting region 34 of thedetection mount 12. A shoulder 52 is formed within the steppedthroughbore 44 at the point in which the first diameter 48 and thesecond diameter 50 meet. The shoulder 52 is substantially perpendicularto the longitudinal axis 46 of the detection mount 12.

To provide a predetermined breakaway point or weakened portion in thedetection mount 12, a narrowing neck region 54 is provided in thedetection mount 12 in the area in which the substantially squaremounting region 32 and the substantially cylindrical mounting region 34of the detection mount 12 meet. The narrowing neck region 54 correspondsin alignment with the shoulder 52 of the stepped throughbore 44 of thedetection mount 12. This corresponding alignment of the narrowing neckregion 54 and the shoulder 52 creates a thinning of material in thedetection mount 12 extending between the deepest point of the narrowingneck region 54 and the shoulder 52. This narrowing or thinning portionof material in the detection mount 12 provides a weakened area of thedetection mount 12 such that the detection mount 12 will break or yieldupon realizing a sufficient amount of force at or above a predeterminedlevel in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis 46 of the detection mount 12. The narrowing neckregion 54 of the detection mount 12 increases the likelihood that thedetection mount 12 will fracture prior to any damage to the modulartooling 12 or the manipulator. In order to assure that the fracturing ofthe detection mount 12 occurs at the narrowing neck region 54, thedetection mount 12 is fabricated from a predetermined material having apredetermined strength. The detection mount 12 may be fabricated from alightweight, high-strength material, such as aluminum.

In order to determine whether the detection mount 12 has fractured, anair passageway 56 extends from an outer surface of the substantiallysquare mounting region 32 of the detection mount 12 to the internalshoulder 52 of the detection mount 12. An air hose fitting 58 isconnected to the inlet of the air passageway 56 in the outer surface ofthe substantially square mounting region 32 of the detection mount 12.The air hose fitting 58 allows for the connection of the air hose 30, aswill be discussed in detail later in the specification. An inlet of theair passageway 56 leads into the internal shoulder 52 of the detectionmount 12, and a recess 62 is provided in the inlet for receiving aflexible O-ring 64. A blocking member 66 is seated on the shoulder 52 ofthe detection mount 12, and in this embodiment, the blocking member 66is fabricated from a ring having a substantially flat surface 67abutting the shoulder 52 so that the blocking member 66 forms a sealwith the O-ring 64, as seen in FIGS. 3-5 and 7-9. The flat surface 67 ofthe blocking member 66 has a chamfered edge 69 to complementarily engagethe transition between the shoulder 52 and the second diameter 50 of thedetection mount 12. The blocking member 66 has an outside diameter thatis substantially the same size as the second diameter 50 of thethroughbore 44 of the detection mount 12 and an inner diameter that issubstantially the same size as the first diameter 48 of the throughbore44 of the detection mount 12. The blocking member 66 may be press fit inthe second diameter 50 of the throughbore 44 of the detection mount 12to properly seat the blocking member 66 in the detection mount 12. Theblocking member 66 may be fabricated from a high strength, light weightmaterial, such as a metal or plastic.

The boom rod 24 is positioned in the second diameter 50 of the detectionmount 12 through the use of the lock ring 22. As seen in FIG. 1, afastener 73 extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis46 of the detection mount 12 through apertures in the lock ring 22 and acorresponding aperture (not shown) in the boom rod 24 to secure the boomrod 24 in the detection mount 12. As previously described, the lock ring22 is connected to the detection mount 12.

In order to provide and regulate pressurized air to the air passageway56 in the detection mount 12, the air pressure system 27 of thebreakaway tooling apparatus 10 provides an air pressure regulator 68connected to an air manifold block 74 which is mounted to the mountingplate 29, as seen in FIGS. 1, 10, and 12-13. The pressure regulator 68provides an air inlet 70 for receiving a supply of pressurized air, andthe pressure regulator 68 regulates the supply of pressurized air to aplurality of air outlets having air hose fittings 72 mounted therein inthe air manifold block 74. The pressure regulator 68 ensures that theair being provided to the air hose fittings 72 in the air manifold block74 is maintained at a predetermined pressure level. For purposes of thepresent invention, the pressure regulator 68 provides relatively low airpressure to the air manifold block 74 and consequently to the airpassageway 56 in the detection mount 12. The air hoses 30 are connectedfrom the air hose fittings 72 in the air manifold block 74 to the airhose fittings 58 provided on the detection mounts 12 of the breakawaytooling apparatus 10.

In order to determine and indicate whether the detection mount 12 of thebreakaway tooling apparatus 10 has fractured, a pressure indicator orswitch 28 is connected to the air manifold block 74 for monitoring theair pressure within the air manifold block 74. The pressure indicator 28may provide a green indicator light 76 that illuminates to indicate thatthe system has power and is operational. The pressure indicator 28 mayalso provide a red indicator light 78 to indicate that the pressurewithin the air manifold block 74 is at or above a predeterminedpressure. If the pressure within the air manifold block 74 falls below apredetermined pressure level, then the red indicator light 78 is notilluminated. When the red indicator light 78 is not illuminated, then anelectronic signal is provided from the pressure indicator 28 to acontrol apparatus (not shown), such as a programmable controller, of themanipulator indicating to the control apparatus that the detection mount12 is fractured. In an alternative embodiment, the green indicator light76 and the red indicator light 78 are not provided, and thus, the signalfrom the pressure indicator or switch 28 is provided directly to thecontrol apparatus. An electric cable 81 may be connected from thepressure indicator 28 to the control apparatus for communicating theelectronic signal. When the signal is sent to the control apparatusindicating that the detection mount 12 is fractured, the controlapparatus immediately shuts down the manipulator and prevents themanipulator from continually operating with a fractured detection mount12.

FIG. 11 shows a circuit diagram 80 for the air pressure system 27 of thebreakaway tooling apparatus 10. The circuit diagram 80 shows the flow ofpressurized air from the supply of pressurized air into the pressureregulator 68 wherein the pressure regulator 68 monitors the flow ofpressurized air through a restriction orifice 82. The regulated air thenflows into the air manifold block 74, wherein the air is supplied to aplurality of outlets or air hose fittings 72. When the pressure to theoutlets 72 is maintained above a predetermined pressure level, thepressure indicator or switch 28 is maintained in an on position. If anyof the outlets 72 are not maintained at a predetermined pressure level,then an electronic signal is sent to the control apparatus, therebyindicating that the detection mount 12 of the breakaway toolingapparatus 10 is fractured. When this occurs, the control apparatusimmediately shuts down the manipulator.

In a second embodiment, the detection mount 12 may have the sameconfiguration as previously described. However, the embodiment shown inFIG. 14 does not provide the ring as the blocking member 66. Rather, theend of the boom rod 24 acts as the blocking member 66 by sealing againstthe flexible O-ring 64. Thus, pressurized air in the air passageway 56is blocked from passing through the air passageway 56 by the end of theboom rod 24 until the detection mount 12 fractures at the narrowed neckregion 54. Once the detection mount 12 fractures at the neck region 54,the seal between the O-ring 64 and the end of the boom rod 24 is broken,and the pressurized air is allowed to pass through the air passageway56, thereby triggering the pressure indicator or switch 28. The controlapparatus then shuts down the manipulator.

In a third embodiment, the detection mount 12 is similar to the firstembodiment; however, the detection mount 12 of the third embodiment, asseen in FIG. 5, provides an air passageway 90 that does not extendthrough the detection mount 12. Rather, the air passageway 90 provides ablind hole 92 that ends within or adjacent to the neck region 54 of thedetection mount 12. Thus, the neck region 54 acts as the blocking member66 to the air passageway 90 by blocking the hole 92. When the detectionmount 12 fractures at the neck region 54, the blind hole 92 of the airpassageway 56 is exposed or opened, thereby allowing pressurized air toflow through the air passageway 90 and allowing the pressure indicatoror switch 28 to be triggered. The control apparatus then shuts down themanipulator.

In operation, the breakaway tooling apparatus 10 is mounted to themaster boom rod 14 of the manipulator. The modular tooling 20 isappropriately mounted to the breakaway tooling apparatus 10 by havingthe boom rod 24 connected to the lock ring 22 which in turn is connectedto the detection mount 12. Depending on the embodiment, the airpassageway 56, 90 is blocked by blocking member 66. The air hose 30 isconnected to an air hose fitting 72 of the air manifold block 74, andthe opposite end of the air hose 30 is connected to the air hose fitting58 on the detection mount 12. A supply of pressurized air is provided tothe pressure regulator 68, and pressurized air is supplied to the airhose fittings 72 on the air manifold block 74. Pressurized air is thenprovided to the air passageway 56, 90 within the detection mount 12, anda predetermined level of pressure is maintained in the air passageway56, 90, as the blocking member 66 prevents pressurized air from exitingthe air passageway 56, 90.

If the detection mount 12 of the breakaway tooling apparatus 10 receivesa sufficient amount of force at an angle substantially perpendicular tothe longitudinal axis 46 of the detection mount 12, the detection mount12 will fracture at the narrowing neck region 54 between thesubstantially square mounting region 32 and the substantiallycylindrical mounting region 34 of the detection mount 12. When thisoccurs, the substantially cylindrical mounting region 34 of thedetection mount 12 and the modular tooling 20 connected to thesubstantially cylindrical mounting region 34 of the detection mount 12will fall away from the substantially square mounting region 32 of thedetection mount 12. Although not shown, a safety strap may beincorporated connecting the substantially square mounting region 32 tothe substantially cylindrical mounting region 34 on the detection mount12 to ensure that the modular tooling 20 does not cause further damagewhen the detection mount 12 fractures. Once the substantiallycylindrical mounting region 34 of the detection mount 12 and the modulartooling 20 break away from the substantially square mounting region 32of the detection mount 12, the blocking member 66 can no longer prohibitpressurized air from passing through the air passageway 56. The level ofpressurized air in the air manifold block 74 is then reduced below thepredetermined level, and the pressure indicator 28 senses the drop inthe level of pressure. Once the pressure drops below the predeterminedlevel, a signal is sent from the pressure indicator 28 to the controlapparatus to stop and shut down the manipulator. The fractured detectionmount 12 may then be replaced with a new, non-fractured detection mount12, and the modular tooling 28 may be reassembled to the detection mount12. The hoses 30 are reconfigured to the new detection mount 12, andpressurized air is again supplied to the new detection mount 12. Thebreakaway tooling apparatus 10 is then ready to be used again by themanipulator.

While the invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment,it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed embodiments, but to the contrary, it is intended to covervarious modifications or equivalent arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims. The scope is to be accorded thebroadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications andequivalent structures as is permitted under the law.

1. A breakaway tooling apparatus, comprising: a detection mountconnectable to a manipulator and at least one tool, and said detectionmount having a weakened portion for allowing said detection mount tofracture at said weakened portion upon the realization of apredetermined force to said detection mount; said detection mount havingan air passageway having at least a portion thereof in close proximityto said weakened portion of said detection mount, and said airpassageway in communication with a pressurized air source such that saidpressurized air is prohibited from passing through said air passagewaywhen said detection mount is not fractured at said weakened portion, andsaid pressurized air is allowed to pass through said air passageway whensaid detection mount is fractured at said weakened portion; and apressure sensor in communication with said pressured air for determiningwhether said pressurized air in said air passageway is below apredetermined level of air pressure, thereby indicating whether saiddetection mount is fractured at said weakened portion.
 2. The breakawaytooling apparatus stated in claim 1, further comprising: said airpassageway in said detection mount extending from a first end, whereinsaid first end is in communication with said pressurized air source, toa second end, wherein said second end opens to a surface of saiddetection mount; and a blocking member engaging said second end of saidair passageway so as to prevent said pressurized air from passingthrough said second end of said air passageway when said detection mountis not fractured at said weakened portion, and said blocking memberallowing said pressurized air to pass through said second end of saidair passageway when said detection mount is fractured at said weakenedportion of said detection mount.
 3. The breakaway tooling apparatusstated in claim 2, further comprising: said blocking member having asubstantially cylindrical ring configuration connected to said detectionmount.
 4. The breakaway tooling apparatus stated in claim 2, furthercomprising: said blocking member fabricated from at least a portion ofsaid tool connected to said detection mount.
 5. The breakaway toolingapparatus stated in claim 2, further comprising: a flexible sealdisposed between said second end of said air passageway and saidblocking member for providing a seal between said air passageway andsaid blocking member when said detection mount is not fractured at saidweakened portion.
 6. The breakaway tooling apparatus stated in claim 1,further comprising: said air passageway in said detection mountextending from a first end to a second end, wherein said first end is incommunication with said pressurized air source; and said second end ofsaid air passageway being closed-ended within said detection mountadjacent to said weakened portion of said detection mount, wherein saidpressurized air is prohibited from passing through said second end ofsaid air passageway when said detection mount is not fractured at saidweakened portion, and wherein said pressurized air is allowed to passthrough said second end of said air passageway due to said second end ofsaid air passageway becoming open-ended when said detection mount isfractured at said weakened portion.
 7. The breakaway tooling apparatusstated in claim 1, further comprising: an air pressure regulator incommunication with said pressurized air source for regulating andmonitoring the level of pressurized air to said air passageway in saiddetection mount.
 8. The breakaway tooling apparatus stated in claim 1,further comprising: said detection mount having a stepped throughboreadaptable to receive said at least one tool, and said steppedthroughbore having at least a portion thereof adjacent to said weakenedportion of said detection mount.
 9. The breakaway tooling apparatusstated in claim 1, further comprising: said weakened portion of saiddetection mount created by a narrowing neck region of said detectionmount such that said detection mount will fracture at said narrowingneck region upon the realization of a predetermined force applied tosaid detection mount.
 10. A breakaway tooling apparatus, comprising: adetection mount connectable to a manipulator and at least one tool, andsaid detection mount having a weakened portion created by a narrowedneck region on an outer portion of said detection mount and a steppedthroughbore in an inner portion of said detection mount, wherein atleast a portion of said stepped throughbore is adjacent to said narrowedneck region of said detection mount for allowing said detection mount tofracture at said weakened portion upon the realization of apredetermined force to said detection mount; said detection mount havingan air passageway extending from said outer portion of said detectionmount to said inner portion of said detection mount; said air passagewayin communication with a pressurized air source at said outer region ofsaid detection mount such that said pressurized air is prohibited frompassing through said air passageway to said inner region of saiddetection mount when said detection mount is not fractured at saidweakened portion, and said pressurized air being allowed to pass throughsaid air passageway to said inner portion of said detection mount whensaid detection mount is fractured at said weakened portion; and apressure sensor in communication with said pressurized air source fordetermining whether said pressurized air in said air passageway is belowa predetermined level of air pressure, thereby indicating whether saiddetection mount is fractured at said weakened portion.
 11. The breakawaytooling apparatus stated in claim 10, further comprising: said airpassageway in said detection mount extending from a first end, whereinsaid first end is in communication with said pressurized air source, toa second end, wherein said second end opens to a surface of said steppedthroughbore of said detection mount; a blocking member engaging saidsecond end of said air passageway and preventing said pressurized airfrom passing through said second end of said air passageway when saiddetection mount is not fractured at said weakened portion, and saidblocking member allowing said pressurized air to flow through saidsecond end of said air passageway when said detection mount is notfractured at said weakened portion.
 12. The breakaway tooling apparatusstated in claim 11, further comprising: said blocking member having asubstantially cylindrical ring configuration connected to said detectionmount.
 13. The breakaway tooling apparatus stated in claim 11, furthercomprising: said blocking member fabricated from at least a portion ofsaid tool connected to said detection mount.
 14. The breakaway toolingapparatus stated in claim 11, further comprising: a flexible sealdisposed between said second end of said air passageway and saidblocking member for providing a seal between said second end of said airpassageway and said blocking member when said detection mount is notfractured at said weakened portion.
 15. The breakaway tooling apparatusstated in claim 10, further comprising: said air passageway in saiddetection mount extending from a first end to a second end, wherein saidfirst end is in communication with said pressurized air source; saidsecond end of said air passageway having a closed end within saiddetection mount adjacent to said weakened portion of said detectionmount, wherein said pressurized air cannot pass through said second endof said air passageway when said detection mount is not fractured atsaid weakened portion, and wherein said pressurized air is allowed topass through said second end of said air passageway due to said secondend of said air passageway becoming open-ended when said detection mountis fractured at said weakened portion.
 16. The breakaway toolingapparatus stated in claim 10, further comprising: an air pressureregulator in communication with said pressurized air source forregulating and monitoring the level of pressurized air to said airpassageway in said detection mount.
 17. A breakaway tooling apparatus,comprising: a detection mount connectable to a manipulator, and saiddetection mount having a stepped throughbore adaptable to receive atleast one tool, wherein a narrowed neck region is formed on an outerportion of said detection mount adjacent an inner portion of saidstepped throughbore for creating a weakened portion of said detectionmount for allowing said detection mount to fracture at said weakenedportion upon the realization of a predetermined force applied to saiddetection mount; an air passageway extending from an outer surface ofsaid detection mount to an inner surface of said detection mount,wherein said inner surface is in close proximity to said weakenedportion of said detection mount; said air passageway in communicationwith a pressurized air source at said outer surface of said detectionmount, wherein said pressurized air is prohibited from passing throughsaid air passageway at said inner surface of said detection mount whensaid detection mount is not fractured at said weakened portion, andwherein said pressurized air is allowed to pass through said airpassageway at said inner surface of said detection mount when saiddetection mount is fractured at said weakened portion of said detectionmount; a pressure sensor in communication with said pressurized air fordetermining whether said pressurized air in said air passageway is belowa predetermined level of air pressure, thereby indicating whether saiddetection mount is fractured at said weakened portion; and an airpressure regulator in communication with said pressurized air source forregulating and monitoring a level of pressurized air to said airpassageway in said detection mount.
 18. The breakaway tooling apparatusstated in claim 17, further comprising: said air passageway having oneend opening into said stepped throughbore in said inner surface of saiddetection mount; a blocking member engaging said one end of said airpassageway for preventing said pressurized air from passing through saidone end of said air passageway when said detection mount is notfractured at said weakened portion, and said blocking member allowingsaid pressurized air to pass through said one end of said air passagewaywhen said detection mount is fractured at said weakened portion; and aflexible seal disposed at said one end of said air passageway to providea seal between said air passageway and said blocking member.
 19. Thebreakaway tooling apparatus stated in claim 18, further comprising: saidblocking member having a substantially, cylindrical ring configurationconnected to said detection mount.
 20. The breakaway tooling apparatusstated in claim 18, further comprising: said blocking member fabricatedfrom at least a portion of said tool connected to said detection mount.21. The breakaway tooling apparatus stated in claim 18, furthercomprising: said air passageway in said detection mount extending from afirst end to a second end, wherein said first end is in communicationwith a pressurized air source; and said second end of said airpassageway having a closed end within said detection mount adjacent tosaid weakened portion of said detection mount, wherein said pressurizedair is prohibited from passing through said closed end of said airpassageway when said detection mount is not fractured at said weakenedportion, and wherein said pressurized air is allowed to pass throughsaid second end of said air passageway due to said second end of saidair passageway becoming open-ended when said detection mount isfractured at said weakened portion.